Splatterhouse NEC TurboGrafx-16 is a beat ’em up game developed by Namco. Originally released as an arcade game, it was soon ported over to personal computers and consoles, bringing the West Mansion horror into homes. Players guide Rick, a parapsychology student, as he battles monsters in the West Mansion, in search of his missing girlfriend, Jennifer. Rick has the ability to kick, jump, and punch, as well as having special dropkick abilities that send him skidding across the ground. Though this is a side-scrolling game that moves from left to right, it’s possible to reach alternate levels by climbing ladders or falling through holes, leading to different mansion stages. Splatterhouse TG16 is a slasher arcade game developed and published by Namco in 1988. It is the title of this entire series of games released for personal computers, and later reinvigorated for the virtual console. Games in this genre are very popular and have been developed for a diverse group of gaming platforms, including Sega Dreamcast, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Atari, Playstation, Xbox 360, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, and PC Engine. This is a side-scrolling beat-em-up game, that features Rick, who is trapped in West Mansion. Players control Rick and help him make his way through the mansion, after he has been resurrected by the Terror Mask. This mask gives him superhuman strength and stamina. Battling against hordes of evil creatures in an attempt to save his girlfriend, Jennifer, Rick has his work cut out for him. Players will be able to recognize the Western horror film influences, such as Evil Dead II and Friday the 13th, that have had an impact on the game’s developers. Similar to many older games in this genre, Splatterhouse NEC TG16, only allows you to move in a two-dimensional environment. In Splatterhouse TurboGrafx-16 the playing field doesn’t have a three-dimensional area, something that was added in a later version, Splatterhouse 3. Rick has the ability to jump, as well as kick and punch. He also has a special attack kick that sends him skidding across the floor, damaging his enemies as he hits them. He can perform low kicks, jumping attacks, and low punches, as well as use various weapons and items he picks up in the levels. In Splatterhouse TG16, all the action consists of moving from left to right, with a small amount of auto-scrolling segments thrown in. Alternate pathways in the mansion can be reached by jumping onto ladders or falling into holes. This makes branching gameplay possible, but mostly in the middle levels. Levels end in boss fights taking place in a single room. Splatterhouse TurboGrafx-16 is an action packed retro game that is a must-have for fans of the genre.